Cigarettes Caused 1,803 Fires in Istanbul in 2026

Careless Smoking Caused 1,803 Fires in Istanbul in 2026

Cigarettes caused 1,803 fires in Istanbul during the first eight months of 2026, accounting for 9.8% of the city's total of 18,321 fires, according to data from the municipal fire department.

The figures highlight smoking as one of the significant causes of fires in Türkiye's largest city, with discarded cigarettes also contributing to fires involving vegetation, waste, homes and other buildings.

Where Did the Smoking-Related Fires Occur?

Of the 1,803 fires attributed to cigarettes:

• 1,435 occurred in bushes or waste;
• 302 involved residential buildings;
• 32 affected workplaces;
• 17 involved other buildings;
• 10 occurred in warehouses;
• 7 affected vehicles.

The highest number of cigarette-related fires was recorded in Fatih, with 223 cases. It was followed by Esenyurt with 194, Güngören with 121, Zeytinburnu with 95, Bayrampaşa with 78 and Pendik with 76.

The lowest numbers were recorded in Bağcılar, Beşiktaş, Adalar, Maltepe and Tuzla.

Other Causes of Fires in Istanbul

According to the fire department, cigarettes were not the only source of fires. Other reported causes included matches, lighters, sparks, stoves, children's actions, faulty electrical wiring, transformers, irons and heaters.

The number of fires caused by cigarettes has declined in recent years. The figure fell from 5,209 cases in 2021 to 3,460 in 2025.

Firefighters Responded to More Than 20,000 Rescue Operations

The average response time for fire crews in Istanbul was 6 minutes and 52 seconds.

During the reported period, firefighters took part in 20,368 rescue operations. These operations resulted in the rescue of 8,291 people and 12,077 animals.

Overall, the fire service handled 91,978 calls and incidents. This included 48,660 cases that were not related to fires and 24,997 requests for medical assistance.

Fire Safety Reminder

Taner Kaboglu, deputy chairman of the Turkish Foundation for Fire Protection and Education, called on smokers to use cigarettes designed to extinguish themselves.

“Cigarettes cause serious damage,” Kaboglu said.

A discarded cigarette can quickly become a source of fire, especially when it comes into contact with dry vegetation or waste.

What the Istanbul Figures Show

The 2026 figures show that smoking remains an important source of fires in Istanbul, even as the annual number of cigarette-related incidents has decreased compared with previous years. The majority of cases during the first eight months of 2026 involved bushes or waste rather than residential buildings.

Source: Istanbul municipal fire department data, reported by MK Turkey.

Image generated using artificial intelligence.